Report finds 'Boys club' in fine form

THE OLD boy network continues to thrive among the legal profession according to the third in a series of reports carried out by the Policy Studies Institute.

The report, to be released this week, will echo past studies by saying firms show a strong preference for Oxbridge graduates and applicants for training contracts have a better chance of receiving an offer if they have links to the profession through family or past work experience.

Student debt remains a pressing problem, with 75 per cent of Legal Practice Course and Bar Vocational Course students owing cash. The average debt for LPC students is £5,000, while BVC takers owe £6,000.

Ethnic minorities, mature students, women and people from less privileged backgrounds are also shown to be at a disadvantage.